Why my Bandana was Saved from the Donation Pile

Over the years I have accumulated a collection of bandanas which I have received from various events, activities and as gifts. After their immediate use had passed I would wash, fold, and tuck them away in my sock drawer. About a year ago while I was doing some spring cleaning, I came across my collection of bandanas and decided that since I had never used any of them, and they were just taking up room in my drawer it was time to get rid of them. So I did what any good spring cleaner would do and tossed them into the donation pile.

I always have second thoughts about parting with things, thinking that I may have a use for the item at some later point in time, and it’s in those moments that the words of my grandma would come to mind “waste not, want not.” So, as guilt and separation anxiety set in, I started thinking of all the ways I might be able use these colorful gems.

My first thought was to just stuff them in my 72 hour kits and forget about them. But as my mind started reeling, I began jotting down other uses for my bandanas. Then I wondered what other uses people had for their bandanas, so I did a little research and came up with a total of 62 uses for the bandana. Do you have bandanas in your preparedness kits? How do you use your bandanas and what other ideas do you have?

Good start PPro; Years ago I scribbled down a list of 101 uses, handed it to my son, and he informed me I left off "blowing your nose".
Most store bought bandannas are a little small for many uses. I follow my wife into fabric stores and while she is shopping, I go find the cheap section and buy cotton and sometimes other fabric that would be good bandanna material. We cut it into squares 36"x36", 30"x30",and 28"x28" and do a simple hem.
John Wayne would need at least a 30".
On outings you have one in each hip pocket and one loose around the neck, and a few more in the bag.

This article was written by a guest contributor and I think she did an AMAZING job on it. In fact, I think I would have been disappointed if she had written "blow your nose". hee hee
Thanks for your other ideas! I'm sure our readers will find them to be helpful as well.

I use them to identify our luggage when taking trips. Just tie them in the metal ring on the handle. We've had a number of people tell us how smart that was, because they are immediately identifiable, especially when nearly everyone has the same red or black color suitcases. I get a different color for each person, two or three of each color, to match carryons and suitcases.

I use them to dust the house, wipe spills in a pinch and to carry small items around. I just tie the bandana around whatever small toys or loose items I have and it works like a baggie. The kids used to tie them to the end of a stick and use them to carry things too (like the old "hobo" images). They would pack a sandwich and baggie of carrots or fruit into the bandana for a picnic lunch with their friends.

I didn't see repairing clothing on the list... having blown out the fronts and backs of multiple pairs of pants outdoors over the years, I have found a bandanna to be useful for preserving one's modesty. Having bandannas close to the color of your pants avoids the circus clown look....

I went on an outdoor adventure class (30 days in length) when I was in my 20's and we were told to bring a couple bandanas. Over the month we all agreed that they were the MOST necessary item we had, and the most versatile. The pre-filtering water was a big one! They were used out there almost every way you mentioned.We wished we had a dozen of them!!